Ren Warzecha, Giovanni Navarro, Kathryn Ludlam (Photo by Michael Hardy Photography)
Reviewed by Steven Vargas
The Studio @ Long Beach Playhouse
Through May 25
It’s 1869 and John Wesley Powell (Ren Warzecha) is hungry for success. He seeks to travel the Green and Colorado Rivers through the Grand Canyon alongside a crew of ambitious explorers. As the Men on Boatscast paddle to the beat of Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand, Powell’s story coalesces into a true-ish story about the challenges of the adventure.
The production of Jaclyn Backhaus’s Men on Boats at The Studio @ Long Beach Playhouse is a majority gender-swapped comedic romp that bursts with an energy akin to a cartoon show (sound effects and all). However, under the direction of Meredith Miranda, some of the vibrational pull of the performances falls flat when punchy lines miss the mark.
The show starts strong with four choreographed boats soaring through the river. Set designer James Huffman and prop designer Russell Malang immerse the audience in the Grand Canyon with an idyllic backdrop and dismembered — yet innovative — boat design that allows the characters to swoop and dive through the roaring river with the transportation vessel in their hands. The direction makes the most of the stage, which is essential if you’re presenting the expansiveness of the Grand Canyon to an audience, but some of the performances do not.
Often, lines are muddled and recited without the vocal variety required to grab the audience’s attention to pivotal points — so much so that the entire cast will guffaw or gasp over a line that wasn’t given the attention its reaction entails. This being said, some performances stood out from the rest, keeping the production up on its legs.
Old Shady (Serena Bottiani-Henderson) and Bradley (Carole Louise), aboard the same boat, are dynamic characters that the actors diligently portray with strong and specific choices. Old Shady begins as a stoic, collected man. But as the tolls of the expedition pile upon his morale, a distressed look grows in his eyes. At one point, Bottiani-Henderson flails her arms in despair singing along to Taylor Swift. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Bradley — the newbie of the group — grows more confident throughout the play. Louise gives their character justice with well-delivered quips and hilarious reactions.
A bonus comedic highlight is the introduction of Johnson (Alex Lohman) and Just Jim (Astrid Ceren), two strangers the crew meets when they step off the main path. The two performers are in their groove as these off-beat characters and display beautiful comedic timing in their portrayal of them. Unfortunately, the same specificity isn’t quite as refined when they perform as the main explorers throughout the rest of the play.
The leading members, Powell and William Dunn (Giovanni Navarro) stand out from the group and have their own arc that edges on romance. This is beautifully portrayed when they are alone, documenting the landscape together and bonding over their shared competitive nature. The actors’ performances also lend the audience a sense of immersion, as their connection to each other and their surroundings transport viewers into a new reality.
Despite the romantic tension and promise of a cathartic bond, the pressure is often released without a satisfying connection. The viewer must question if the romance is actually there with each release of tension. By the end, when Powell succeeds and is promised the accolades for his successful journey through the Grand Canyon, he still longs for Dunn. Their premeditated connection creates a heartwarming conclusion but leaves a loose thread that is hard to grasp.
Men on Boats has the makings of a hilarious reimagining of Powell’s notorious excursion, including absurd props and specific archetypes portrayed through the crew of adventurers. However, the execution fails to take into account the vastness of the Grand Canyon. The primarily bare stage requires a performance just as grand as the U.S. landmark it represents. However, lack of specificity in some performances results in scenes and overarching character developments that crash into the waves of a waterfall.
Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E Anaheim St., Long Beach. Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm; thru May 25. lbplayhouse.org/event/men-on-boats/ Running time: Two hours with one 15-minute intermission.
